Guideway

ABSTRACT

A guideway for track-bound vehicle such as a magnetic suspension railway vehicle includes a plurality of serially arranged carriers. Each carrier further includes a guideway slab having vehicle guidance elements arranged thereon, the guideway slab supported on a web oriented in a longitudinal direction of carrier and extending downwardly from the guideway slab. A foundation member bears the weight of the carriers relative to an underlying surface upon which the guideway is constructed. The webs extend from the guideway slab towards the foundation member. Resilient members are disposed between the foundation member and the underlying surface that resiliently support the foundation member in a vertical direction relative to the underlying surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a guideway for a track-bound vehicle, especially a magnetic suspension railway, with several serially arranged carriers, in which each carrier comprises a guideway slab with guide elements for the vehicle arranged on it. The guideway slab is held at a distance from a foundation by at least one web that runs in the longitudinal direction of the carrier and projects in the assembled position substantially downward from the guideway slab.

BACKGROUND

DE 10 2004 015 495 A1 teaches a track for a magnetic suspension railway with a shunt arrangement in which carriers comprise guide elements for the vehicle that are arranged on a guideway slab. The guideway slab is fastened on a web arranged on an apparatus for oscillation damping. The oscillation damping is provided in the design in order to allow a calm running operation of the vehicle in the shunt. The carrier is fastened to this end directly on the oscillation damping apparatus. This arrangement has the disadvantage that the carrier must be designed in a very filigree-like manner in the shunt in order to allow the bending for a shunt switching. Moreover, successive carriers must be firmly connected to each other in order to avoid vertical offsets during the deflection of individual carriers during the passage of the vehicle and impacts between the carrier that is already deflected and the following carrier that is not yet deflected. Problems can arise in the longitudinal expansion of the carriers by the connection of the carriers to each other.

WO/2004/022852 A1 also teaches a track for magnetic track trains. The guideway slab with guide elements arranged on it for the vehicle is fastened by resilient supports on a concrete carrier. A disadvantage is the different deflection of adjacent guideway slabs during the passage of a vehicle if the guideway slabs are not firmly connected to each other. In addition, in this design, the low mass of the guideway slab produces an unfavorable mass-spring system that can only bring about an insufficient oscillation damping.

The present invention therefore has the problem of creating a guideway in which adjacent carriers uniformly deflect and thus avoid impacts between adjacent carriers during the passage of a vehicle, regardless of whether the carriers are connected to each other or not. In addition, an effective mass-spring system is created in which a very good oscillation damping can be produced.

SUMMARY

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

According to the invention, the guideway, which comprises a guideway slab and a web, is fastened on a foundation supported in the vertical direction in a resilient manner on the base. Thus, not only the weight of the carrier but in addition also the mass of the foundation, serves as mass for the mass-spring system. According to requirements and independently of the shape of the carrier, the foundation can be designed in such a manner as regards mass that it produces a reliable oscillation damping. This creates a system that allows a calm and comfortable operation of a vehicle, in particular of a magnetic suspension railway, on the carrier of the guideway.

In order to make possible a positionally exact, individual installation of the individual carriers in accordance with the required course of the guideway line, it is advantageous if a support base is arranged between carrier and foundation, and if the carrier is arranged together with the support base on the foundation. The support base can be designed in such a manner that the carrier is horizontally aligned. However, a trapezoidal or wedge-shaped support base can also be used, in particular for curve courses, so that a carrier that is designed per se straight is installed with an incline.

The support base can be designed in one piece with the foundation. However, it is also possible that the support base is manufactured as a separate structural component and is permanently connected to the foundation. Then the carrier is fastened to the support base, for example by being screwed on. The mass of the mass-spring system is further enlarged by the support base. Alternatively, the carrier can also be arranged directly, without support base, on the foundation with support and holding apparatuses.

In order to create an especially advantageous mass-spring system that in particular also brings about a certain damping during maneuvers of acceleration or braking of the vehicle, it can be provided that the foundation is supported not only in the vertical but also in the horizontal direction in a resilient manner on the base. The horizontal elastic support can be designed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier as well as in its transverse direction. This also dampens laterally occurring impacts.

A resilient support between foundation and base can be designed to be continuous or discontinuous. The more advantageous solution is to be selected according to the support material used.

The foundation can be designed in various ways. Thus, either a continuous course of the foundation or a discontinuous course of the foundation is possible. In a continuous course of the foundation, a through slab, and particularly a concrete slab, that is resiliently supported, is present underneath the carrier. This creates an especially large resilient mass. However, the expense of producing such a foundation is also relatively great since large component lengths must be resiliently supported. In the case of a discontinuous design of the foundation, it is sufficient if a locally limited area underneath the fastening points of the carrier on the foundation is resiliently supported. The foundation is also limited to these areas so that the production can be carried out more economically.

If at least two carriers are present on a single foundation, they deflect together with the foundation when traveled over. This avoids an offset or inadmissible bend between two successive carriers. Both carriers move in the same manner together with the foundation and thus form a continuous guideway. Furthermore, there is the advantage that this would also further increase the mass of the mass-spring system since even the weight of the following carrier influences the oscillation system. In this manner an especially advantageous and favorable mass-spring system is achieved for the support of the guideway carriers. This is especially advantageous if the foundation is a discontinuously designed foundation since, as a consequence, the mass of the foundation is not as great as in the continuously designed foundation.

If the foundation is arranged in a trough of the base, in particular the guidance of the foundation during deflection, and quite especially the arrangement for the horizontal deflection of the foundation, can be designed in an advantageous manner. The trough walls function here in particular for the supporting of the horizontal deflections.

The guideway support system in accordance with the invention is especially well suited for use in a tunnel. The base is the tunnel bottom in this embodiment. Oscillations of the system during the passage of a vehicle are as a result thereof not transferred, or only insignificantly transferred, to the tunnel tube and the further surroundings.

The carrier is advantageously a standard construction component and superelevations of the guideway in a curve travel take place by means of a wedge-shaped design of the support base and/or of the foundation. This makes an economical production of the guideway possible.

In particular, in an embodiment in which the support base was produced independently of the foundation, it is advantageous if the support base is adjusted on the foundation. The connection between carrier and support base consequently takes place, for example, by a simple screw connection. The precise alignment of the carrier is performed by adjustment apparatuses located in the support base relative to the foundation. After the adjusting of the foundation, a grouting joint is filled up with grouting compound, which fixes the adjustment. The connection between support base and foundation can also take place by a connection reinforcement in order to obtain a shear-resistant connection.

It is possible by means of the support of the carriers in accordance with the invention, especially when two carriers are arranged on their adjacent ends on a single foundation, that the carriers are not directly connected to one another. An expansion gap can remain between the two carriers. Longitudinal extensions of the carriers can take place as a result without problems and without stresses that are too great occurring in the guideway. A common deflection of the carriers also takes place during the passage of the vehicle, in particular due to the common support of two adjacent carriers on one foundation, so that a direct connection of the two carriers to one another is not necessary.

In order to allow an angular offset or slight bend of the guideway on two adjacent carriers to a slight admissible degree, it is advantageous if the carrier is fastened on the support base or on the foundation with a support that allows an angular offset. As a consequence thereof, the longitudinal extent of the carriers and the displacement of two carriers is possible to a slight degree. In contrast to an offset in elevation of the two adjacent carriers, this angular bending of the two carriers to one another is admissible. The travel operation is not hindered.

The carriers used in the guideway in accordance with the invention are preferably produced from finished concrete parts. Even the foundation can be constructed as a finished concrete part or on-site concrete part. Of course, even other carriers are possible that are manufactured from steel or combined from steel and concrete. The carrier can be constructed in one piece or several pieces, for example with separate webs fastened to the guideway slab. As a result of the construction of the guideway in accordance with the invention with a resiliently supported foundation on which the carriers are arranged, even light carrier embodiments can be optimally designed with regard to the mass-spring system.

In a special constructive embodiment the carrier is supported continuously on the foundation. This results in a uniform load characteristic of the carrier.

Further advantages of the invention are described in the following exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a guideway in accordance with the invention with support base.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section according to FIG. 1 without support base.

FIG. 3 shows a lateral view of a guideway in accordance with the invention with discontinuous support, and

FIG. 4 shows a lateral view according to FIG. 3 with continuous support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each embodiment is presented by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that the invention include these and other modifications and variations of the embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a tunnel 1 in which a guideway 2 with a carrier 3 is arranged. The guideway 2 is provided in the present exemplary embodiment for a vehicle of a magnetic suspension railway. However, it can also be provided, for example, for a railroad. The carrier 3 comprises a guideway slab 4 on whose lateral edges guidance elements 5 for the vehicle are fastened. The guidance elements 5 serve for the lateral guidance of the vehicle, as well as for its drive. Webs 6 are arranged on guideway slab 4 that hold guideway slab 4 at a distance from a support base 7 and a foundation 8. Carrier 3 is permanently arranged on support base 7. However, as an alternative a certain elasticity can be present here already in order to allow a movement of carrier 3 on support base 7 to a slight extent. Support base 7 is permanently connected to foundation 8. It can be manufactured separately from foundation 8. However, it is also possible in alternate embodiments that support base 7 is designed in one piece with foundation 8 or webs 6.

A bottom 9 of tunnel is 1 comprises a trough 10 in which foundation 8 is resiliently supported. Spring elements 11 and 12 are provided for this on which foundation 8 is supported. Spring elements 11 serve to this end for the deflection in vertical direction whereas spring elements 12 allow a deflection in the horizontal, lateral direction. In one embodiment of the invention (not shown) only spring elements 11 are present so that only a deflection in vertical direction takes place.

Therefore, the entire guideway 2 is supported on foundation 8, which is elastically supported in the vertical as well as in the horizontal, lateral direction. This produces a mass-spring system with an extraordinarily large mass that brings about an oscillation damping that allows an extremely calm and protective passage for the vehicle, the passengers and the structure. In addition, vibrations against the surroundings are damped, resulting particularly in protection of the structure.

In the present exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, support base 7 is designed in a wedge shape. This will be the case when guideway 2 is laid in a curve. The wedge-shaped support base 7 produces a superelevation of carrier 3, which reduces the load on the vehicle during curve travel. Of course, support base 7 can also be designed in such a manner that carrier 3 runs straight, without a superelevation.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment similar to FIG. 1. The only difference here is that carrier 3 is fastened directly on foundation 8. Support base 7 was eliminated. Even such a design brings about a mass-spring system that functions very well. Especially in straight stretches this can be an advantageous and economical constructional embodiment of the invention. The fastening of carrier 3 on foundation 8 can be either inflexible or also elastic for. Even the fastening in the type of a fixed support and a loose support is possible here, just as in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in order to allow longitudinal expansions of carrier 3.

FIG. 3 shows a lateral view of a section of a guideway 2 with two carriers 3. It can be gathered from the presentation of FIG. 3 that two carriers 3 are supported on the adjacent ends on a single foundation 8. Foundation 8 is supported for its part again with spring elements 11 in a vertical direction opposite a base 13. Spring elements 12′ are in a horizontal direction and bring about a resilient support of foundation 8 in the horizontal direction, here in contrast to FIGS. 1 and 2, but in the longitudinal direction of carrier 3. Moreover, spring elements 12 from FIGS. 1 and 2 also ensure a lateral support here.

The two carriers 3 do not have to be permanently connected to one another. As a result of the common support of a foundation 8, they bring about a common deflection, so that an inadmissible offset in height of the two adjacent carriers 3 does not take place during a passage of a vehicle.

As can be gathered from FIG. 3, carriers 3 are discontinuously supported on several foundations 8. Each carrier 3 is supported on a single foundation slab 8 on the end on which it is adjacent to the next carrier 3. The other end of carrier 3 is supported on another foundation slab 8 that cooperates with the other adjacent carrier 3.

In order to make the horizontal or longitudinal deflection possible, foundation 8 is supported with its spring elements 12′ opposite protuberances 14 fastened on base 13. Protuberances 14 permit the absorption of forces that occur, for example, by the vehicle during braking or acceleration in the horizontal longitudinal direction of the carriers. In the case of a lateral support of foundations 8, appropriate protuberances can also be provided for this.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention similar to FIG. 3. The only difference here is that carriers 3 are not discontinuously supported but rather continuously on a single foundation 8′. Foundation 8′ runs underneath carriers 3 and is supported opposite base 13 by a plurality of spring elements 11. This produces an extraordinarily large mass for the mass-spring system, that produces an especially good oscillation damping. However, disadvantages in comparison to the design in accordance with FIG. 3 can be the higher construction expense.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown. Changes within the scope of the patent claims are possible at any time. 

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A guideway for track-bound vehicle such as a magnetic suspension railway vehicle, comprising: a plurality of serially arranged carriers, wherein each of said carriers further comprises a guideway slab having vehicle guidance elements arranged thereon; said guideway slab further comprising a web oriented in a longitudinal direction of said carrier, said web extending downwardly from said guideway slab; a foundation member that bears the weight of said carrier relative to an underlying surface upon which said guideway is constructed, said web extending from said guideway slab towards said foundation member; and resilient members disposed between said foundation member and said underlying surface that resiliently support said foundation member in a vertical direction relative to said underlying surface.
 20. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein said carrier further comprises a support base attached to a bottom of said web, said support base configured on said foundation member.
 21. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein said web is supported directly on said foundation member without intervening structure.
 22. The guideway as in claim 19, further comprising additional resilient members disposed between said foundation member and said underlying surface that resiliently support said foundation member in a horizontal direction relative to said underlying surface.
 23. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein said foundation member is continuous along said carriers.
 24. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein said foundation member is discontinuous along said carriers and comprises a plurality of distinct and spaced apart foundation members.
 25. The guideway as in claim 24, wherein adjacent ends of at least two said carriers are supported on a single one of said foundation members.
 26. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein sad foundation member is seated within a trough defined in said underlying surface.
 27. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein said guideway is constructed in a tunnel and said underlying surface comprises a bottom of said tunnel.
 28. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein said carrier further comprises a support base attached to a bottom of said web, said support base configured on said foundation member, and wherein at least one of said support base or said foundation member comprise a wedge-shaped configuration to super-elevate said guideway slab in curved sections of said guideway.
 29. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein said carrier further comprises a support base attached to a bottom of said web, said support base adjustably configured on said foundation member.
 30. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein said carrier further comprises a support base attached to a bottom of said web, said support base configured on said foundation member, and further comprising a grouting compound filling a joint between said support base and said foundation.
 31. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein said carriers are not connected to each other in the longitudinal direction other than by support of adjacent said carriers on a common said foundation member.
 32. The guideway as in claim 31, wherein said carriers further comprise a support base attached to a bottom of said web, said support bases of adjacent said carriers supported on a common said foundation member and adjustable relative to said common foundation member such that one said carrier has an angular offset relative to said adjacent carrier.
 33. The guideway as in claim 19, wherein said web comprises separate web members spaced apart in a transverse direction of said carrier and running a longitudinal length of said carrier. 